Wiltshire Police were graded as ‘inadequate’ in a recently published report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
The report resulted from an inspection under the Police Efficiency, Effectiveness and Legitimacy (PEEL) programme. Areas such as: ‘Preventing Crime’; Investigating Crime’; ‘Treatment of the public’; ‘Managing offenders’; ‘Developing a positive workplace’ were deemed as ‘Requires Improvement’, whilst areas such as: ‘Responding to the public’; ‘Protecting vulnerable people’; and ‘Good use of resources’ were deemed as ‘inadequate’.
A full copy of the report can be accessed and downloaded here.
What this assessment means will impact on the community covered – both the Wiltshire Council and Swindon Local Authority areas. Marlborough.news columnist, Paul Howlett (former senior officer within Wiltshire Police) gives his experienced view on how the force has ended up in this position and what can be done to address the issues of creating an effective Policing service for Wiltshire residents.
Click here to read Paul’s column
Wiltshire Police Chief Constable, Keir Pritchard acknowledged the severity of the report: “I recognise this is a significantly concerning report. My responsibility as Chief Constable is to deliver a local policing service that the people of Wiltshire expect, pay for and deserve. I remain resolute in our effort to improve.”
He added: “Whilst our officers, staff and volunteers work incredibly hard in challenging circumstances, it is clear we have much more to do in focusing on the core service delivery.”
Philip Wilkinson, recently elected Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime commissioner (PCC) said: “The Inspectorate’s report is a sobering read and is highly disappointing especially when I know we have many dedicated officers and staff working hard to deliver a quality policing service.
“But it is absolutely clear from what I have been told by our residents, my own observations and now this report that there are areas of concern that need addressing: victims of crime, vulnerable people and our communities deserve better.”
From rank-and-file officers of Wiltshire Police, Wiltshire Police Federation Chair Phil Matthews stated: “Not only are we reeling from 12 years of pay freezes and below inflation rises and some of the hardest times policing have seen, high demand and increased workload but this will now also look like they aren’t doing it well enough either.”
He added: “I can tell you that our officers are working harder than they have ever done for less money than they deserve for the work they do……I believe our Chief already has plans in motion for change in the areas mentioned in the report and I hope they are the right plans to make the changes that last, support our officers and deliver the service to our public we all joined to deliver.”
The Wiltshire force are undoubtedly hampered by a lack of resource – for the area and community covered, smaller and with less funding than all bar a handful of forces across the country – and austerity has led to a significant number of highly experienced long-term officers leaving, whilst replacements – although keeping numbers up – can’t ever ‘turn on’ decades worth of experience when dealing with issues that affect those of us in the community.
So no instant ‘fix’ possible, other than recognition of the issues facing the force and application of effort to bring the standard of the Wiltshire force back up to the levels of only a few years ago when it was rated as ‘good’. Paul Howlett’s analysis and opinion, based on many years experience of Policing Wiltshire is one place to start, as is the recognition of the force’s position by the Chief Constable and PCC and their focus on addressing all of the issues facing the force that were bought to the attention of all in the HMICFRS report published very recently.
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